Distances himself from Valmiki pontiff’s comment that he should play Madakari Nayaka V

It was a cast vs caste conundrum that threatened to create a crisis in Sandalwood. But actor Sudeep ended the controversy by proving that cast is all that matters in the industry and not its homonym.

It all started when producer Rockline Venkatesh announced a film two weeks ago, on the 18th Century warrior Madakari Nayaka V, with Darshan in the lead role. Sudeep too said that he was in the process of producing a film on the Chitradurga chieftain. However, opposition came from the most unlikeliest quarters to the biopic of Madakari Nayaka. The pontiff of the Valmiki Mutt in Harihara, Prasannananda Swamiji held a press conference earlier this week to say that the Valmiki community prefers Sudeep to don the role of Madakari Nayaka as both belong to the same caste.

Suddenly, Sudeep found himself dragged into a controversy.

However, the actor refused to be drawn into the debate. Speaking to Bangalore Mirror from Georgia where he is shooting for a Telugu film, he broke his silence saying, “Caste hasn’t been a part of my creative thoughts and it will never be.” Adding that he refuses to be a part of the arguments, Sudeep said, “I think all this is unnecessary unless someone is looking for a topic to debate,” he said.

With the Swamiji throwing his support behind Sudeep to be cast in the lead role of Madakari Nayaka and Rockline Venkatesh’s announcement of the film ‘Gandugali MadakariNayaka’, the industry waited to see how the stalemate would be diffused.

Sudeep saved the day when he said that he supported the efforts of Venkatesh to make the movie on Madakari Nayaka as well. “If more than one film is made on a person, it shows the respect we have for him. Let both films be a tribute to the legendary hero,” said Sudeep, ending the controversy.

In a statement sent to Mirror, Sudeep said, “With due respect to everyone, their emotions and sentiments, let this matter dilute as it is heading nowhere. Caste hasn’t been a part of my creative thoughts and it will never be. I respect the Swamiji as well as Rockline Venkatesh.”

Sudeep said that the incessant talk about caste had irked him. “If this energy and effort goes into discussing really important issues of the common man, life will get better for all,” the actor said.

Caste issues have always remained below the radar in Sandalwood. But they haven’t been entirely absent either.

Allegations of giving preference to actors of a particular caste have tainted a famous Kannada director. The downplaying of his equally competent contemporary has also been alleged to be a caste bias.

Rajkumar and caste

When Rajkumar was selected to play Sri Raghavendra in Mantralaya Mahatme, there were voices of discontent particularly because he did not belong to a “vegetarian caste” like the Madhava swamiji. “Even Rajkumar wanted to back out on this film. But the director drew lots and Rajkumar’s name emerged. Rajkumar famously gave up eating meat while shooting for the film,” recalls film historian BN Subramanya.

Subramanya, however, says that a swamiji coming out against or in favour of an actor is bad for the industry. “Actors are never tainted by caste. This development of a swamiji demanding that a role go to a particular actor does not bode well,” he said.

As for two films on the same subject, Subramanya said that it has happened many times before. “Several films on Basavanna, Sri Raghavendra and others have been made. Two films on Shivasharane Nambiyakka supposedly based on the same script, was also made simultaneously,” Subramanya said

Another senior film chronicler, Ganesh Kasargod said, “It is an open secret that there have been and there are some caste preferences in the film industry. But it is so discreet and invisible that no one would suspect it. I am glad that Sudeep has spoken out against it.”